Thanks! ^

This makes FT a much more pleasant experience. Since I never click on the ads, FT will not loose ad revenue on my behalf. I would support an enhanced FT version free of ads. I really think that the "ad gurus" at FT have pushed this a bit to far.

I understand the need for revenue generation from ads but it seems to me that the ads were running FT not the other way around.

Clearly the reaction the administrators are hoping for. Or am I just being cynical?

Id say cynical. I don't think I've ever met a website owner (Randy) that cares so much about his customers (us). This is a guy that pumps 1000's of his own money into the site and in the past has always done anything he can to make us happy.

Really, I don't smell any kind of conspiracy here, there is no way Randy is pulling this so he can "force" us to move to the paid version...

Absolutely not. I believe the goal is to irritate everyone enough so that they'll fork over dough for the ad-free version of FT. The revenue from that will easily surprass whatever they're getting from the ads now.

Not a bad strategy, except it alienates your users and makes us lose respect for the entire enterprise who thought FT was above this nonsense.

Interesting thought.

Well, I have via the helpful posts of some tech savvy FT'ers done the 'hosts' edit which took even doofus me a few minutes, and I see no ads. And very clearly lots of others are doing that too.

Seeing there is NO option (yet) to get a paid version (which I have been advocating for a year as the ads increased in number and style and annoyance levels) I just wonder if there might be a lot of FT'ers who now will see no need to subscribe to that service when it inevitably comes on stream. As they have been literally forced to take action already to block them.

Bad timing for these new ads to come along and REALLY irritate everyone on FT it seems before the opt-out paid version rolled out. Reading the posts as I just have in 5 forums about these, seems everyone that sees them hates them. 'Straw that broke the Camel's back reaction' it looks very much like to me. :mad:

I'd suggest that you try moremiles.org. It's pathetic, but ad free.

Yes. Yes. That must be it.

I see the complaining about possibly paying for something has already started. :rolleyes:

I don't think Randy is too worried about how he'll get folks to pay, he's already said that ad-free FT will come with any of the other services he offers, which means (at current pricing) it'll be as cheap as $12/yr for an online InsideFlyer subscription.

That's alot less than just about everyone has said they'd be willing to pay.

Plus you get something on top of it (magazine content, award redemption help, whichever you opt for).

Besides, I fully take Randy at his word that the current ads aren't a conscious direction he's wanted to go, he faults the ad agency for bringing the site to this point. As many have observed here, the ad campaigns that have been running are more often than not poorly targeted to the audience so the click-through rates are low. And he's said he's going to look into the whole thing, that he hadn't even really noticed since he surfs in ad-free mode.

Enough with the conspiracy theories. I think opinions have been heard in this (and other) thread(s).

^

That ....... works really nicely :D

I'd be willing to pay for FT, when the option is available.

For now, I shall be ad-blocking for all web sites now that I have it, its pretty spiffy.

And I will second that opinion!

I'm sure Randy will do a simple cost/benefit analysis on the new ads and make his decision accordingly. At the end of the day, Flyertalk is a business so I'm not sure why folks take this stuff so personally.

I actually hadn't even noticed the ads - I've been playing on the internet so long that my little brain just filters them out on its own. I can't remember ever clicking on ad.

That said, I do appreciate the pointer towards ....... with which I now happily zap ads - particularly on my laptop which I occasionally have to use (gasp) dial-up while traveling.

thanks, your guidance worked like a charm!!!
 

I followed your instructions on locating the "hosts"file, cut and paste the two lines of code in the notepad there and

VOILA--good bye google!!!!!

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I did the same thing. There was no hosts file so I created one.

No luck, didn't work for me.

Better go back and read the instructions again. :)

Quite frankly, I'd be more than happy to pay for a subscription to FT.

Ads or no ads, this is the one site that I would pay for. I do not pay for any other sites, but this one I would. As has been said, Randy has laid out a lot of money for this place for us, and it is a valuable resource.

So say the word, Randy, and I'll be sending over my charge card #----of course, you DO realize that it will be a mile- or points-earning card, right??

:) :)

Ads don't bother me at all...I just tune them out. Recurring bills on my credit card annoy me much more.